The Conn Family Foundation also recognized Gold Star Family Day with a $5,000 donation to Goodwill Industries for Veteran Service Programs in the 21-County area.

Tanya Koonce

Obed & Isaac’s Restaurant and Microbrewery is open for business in the Cornerstone Building in Downtown Peoria. Governor Bruce Rauner as well as other state and local elected officials and business people attended the ribbon cutting celebrating the new life of the 127-year-old structure.

The Springfield-based Conn Hospitality Group also operates an Obed & Isaac’s Restaurant and other historic business investments in the capital city. Group partner Karen Conn says the Peoria Brewhouse is whole new ballgame for their brew team:

“The brewhouse in Peoria is twice the size of Springfield and it has probably four times the capacity of Springfield and it’s a different system. It’s all automated and it’s steam generated as opposed to gas fired as in Springfield.”

Obed & Isaac’s in the historic Cornerstone Building in Downtown Peoria is open for business.

Credit Tanya Koonce

Conn says they have about 85 employees and will top out at about 100 workers. Governor Bruce Rauner says small businesses like this are the backbone of the Illinois Economy. He says he and the first lady are regulars at the Springfield restaurant and he’s a big fan of the black IPA beer and the Lamb Burgers.

The Conn Family Foundation also made a $5,000 donation to Goodwill Industries for Veteran Service Programs in the 21-County area.